COVID-19: Time for Nigerians to refocus, grow nation’s economy – Don
A professor of economics, University of Benin, Prof. Mercy Aniyiwe, has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that it was time Nigerians refocus and grow the nation’s economy through viable applications of micro policies, restructuring and diversification.
Prof. Anyinwe, who spoke to journalists in Asaba on Monday, said that Nigerians should work harder to circumvent economic recession and crisis engendered by the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic, and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 shock.
She said: “This is the time to learn our lessons, that nowhere else is better than home. That as you make your bed so you will lie on it, that self-reliance is better than multiple foreign aids and that diversification is better than putting all your eggs in one basket.
“That dependence on domestic products and that saving for the raining day should be a daily practice. To convert the impending COVID-19 economic crisis into economic growth, all Nigerians should take responsibility for their health, learn to save now and invest.
“Learn to manufacture goods and to supply other countries, learn to patronize home made goods above any other and be ready to be more productive than ever before as soon as lockdown is lifted.
“Government should concentrate on mass health and mass welfare without which optimal productivity cannot be experienced, guided massive injection of funds into health, education, energy, agriculture, industries and private sector are recommended.”
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The varsity don however, commended the federal government, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control ( NCDC), the governors of Delta and Edo states, and health, workers in both states on measures put in place to curtail the spread of the deadly disease.
She added that “in the ongoing lockdown, I appeal to our leaders to seek the advice of experts in health, social- economic growth and development, and I am optimistic that we shall scale through these hard times.
“But, Nigerians must refocus and grow their own economy through restructuring, and diversification towards viable economic growth.”
She said that Nigeria will push its economic pendulum towards the direction of growth if the leaders assemble seasoned team of economists, researchers, scientists and other critical stakeholders and plan for a better future as necessity is the mother of invention.
